Motor vehicle tailgate mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis in the vicinity of its bottom edge

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle tailgate of the type for installing on a motor vehicle so as to pivot about a horizontal axis situated close to the bottom edge of the tailgate between a closed position in which it closes access to the inside of the vehicle, at least in part, and an open position in which it is substantially horizontal and releases access to the inside of the vehicle. It comprises an appearance-defining outer panel and a structural inner panel, the inner panel being made of a plastics material.

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle tailgate mountedto pivot about a horizontal axis in the vicinity of its bottom edge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Such a tailgate is generally fitted to a cross-country typevehicle whose rear opening is closed in its top portion by a tailgatewhich has an upper portion extending from the roof down to a certainheight, and a lower portion constituting the subject matter of thepresent invention, and which extends the upper portion down to the floorof the vehicle.

[0003] For an example of such a tailgate, reference can be made todocument U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,985.

[0004] It will be understood that such a tailgate is very fragile whenin the open position since it is cantilevered out, thus making itnecessary for it to be made out of metal, using a structure that isdetermined by the requirement for strength to the exclusion of any otherfunctional or decorative characteristic.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention seeks to provide a motor vehicle tailgatewhich is not only strong as required by its function, but which alsopresents a structure enabling it to perform functions other than mereclosure.

[0006] The present invention provides a motor vehicle tailgate of thetype for installing on a motor vehicle so as to pivot about a horizontalaxis situated close to the bottom edge of the tailgate between a closedposition in which it closes access to the inside of the vehicle, atleast in part, and an open position in which it is substantiallyhorizontal and releases access to the inside of the vehicle, thetailgate comprising an appearance-defining outer panel and a structuralinner panel, said inner panel being made of a plastics material.

[0007] Advantageously, the inner panel presents shapes in relief, inparticular including ribs, and presents a structure that is rigid.

[0008] The tailgate of the invention presents the original feature ofbeing strong because of its structure incorporating a structural innerpanel, while nevertheless being simple to make and of low cost becauseits two panels can easily be made by molding.

[0009] Preferably, the inner panel is made of polypropylene mixed withglass fibers or of a thermosetting plastics material, and the outerpanel is made of a thermoplastic material, with the outer paneloptionally being subsequently subjected to painting treatment.

[0010] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the tailgateincludes metal reinforcement between the outer panel and the innerpanel, which reinforcement takes up a fraction of the forces that areexerted on the tailgate.

[0011] The tailgate of the invention provides the advantage whereby theinner panel of plastics material can perform functions other than themere closure function, thus making it possible to use the tailgate forother purposes, whether it is in the open position or in the closedposition.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the inner panel has housings suitablefor receiving modules that are received at least in part in thethickness of the tailgate and that provide special functions.

[0013] As examples of modules, mention can be made in particular of aseat so that the tailgate can be sat on when it is in the open position,storage that is available both when the tailgate is in its open positionand when it is in its closed position, which storage can, in particular,contain tools or first-aid equipment, an insulated picnic box forkeeping food cool, a cooker for cooking food, or a table that can beused when the tailgate is in the open position.

[0014] Preferably, the modules are two in number and are disposed oneither side of a central upright formed in the inner panel to stiffen itin the region of the lock of the tailgate.

[0015] In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the inner panelincludes retention means for retaining the modules in their housings,the retention means being releasable.

[0016] By way of example, the retention means may consist in a slidewayand a latch.

[0017] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the outer panel ofthe tailgate supports a flap hinged about a horizontal axis enablingsaid flap to pivot relative to the tailgate so that the flap remains ina vertical position when the tailgate pivots from its closed, verticalposition to its open, horizontal position.

[0018] The flap is designed to carry the number plate of the vehicle andallows the vehicle to be used while leaving the tailgate open, e.g. fortransporting bulky objects, while still keeping its number platevisible, as required by legislation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to make the invention better understood, there follows adescription of embodiments given as non-limiting examples and made withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a three-quarter rear perspective view of a motorvehicle;

[0021]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tailgate of FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a section view on III-III of FIG. 2;

[0023]FIGS. 4A to 4D are section views on III-III showing how themodules snap-fasten in the tailgate lower portion;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a section view on V-V of FIG. 4D;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a perspective and section view on VIVI of FIG. 5;

[0026]FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the rear corner of another vehicleprovided with a tailgate of the vehicle;

[0027]FIG. 8 is a view analogous to FIG. 5 showing the tailgate in theopen position;

[0028]FIG. 9 shows a flap supporting a number plate belonging to thetailgate of FIGS. 5 and 6; and

[0029]FIG. 10 is a three-quarters rear perspective view of another motorvehicle.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030]FIG. 1 shows the back of a motor vehicle 1 of the one-box type,including a rear opening 2 giving access to the cabin. The top portionof the opening is closed by a tailgate upper portion 3 and its bottomportion is closed by a tailgate lower portion 4.

[0031] The tailgate upper portion 3 extends from the roof 5 of thevehicle to the level of its tail lights 6, and it is hinged along itstop edge 7 via hinges (not shown) which enable it to pivot about ahorizontal axis.

[0032] The tailgate lower portion 4 is hinged about hinges (not visible)situated in the vicinity of its bottom edge 8, which hinges enable it topivot about a horizontal axis.

[0033] The upper and lower portions 3 and 4 of the tailgate meet in theclosed position along a join line 9 extending a line of styling 10 whichstarts in the fenders 11 of the vehicle and runs along the tops of thetail lights 6. When the tailgate portions are in the open position,access to the cabin is completely unimpeded, and the tailgate portionsextend substantially horizontally.

[0034] In FIG. 1, only the lower portion 4 is open, the upper portion 3being closed and being held in this position by a central lock 24provided on the lower portion.

[0035]FIG. 2 shows the structure of the tailgate lower portion 4.

[0036] It comprises firstly an outer panel or skin 13 that issubstantially plane and made of polypropylene.

[0037] It also has an inner panel 14 of polypropylene mixed with glassfibers, and of a shape in relief that enables it to perform a structuralfunction.

[0038] The inner panel 14 is generally flat but has ribs 15 (visible inFIG. 3), a central upright 16 projecting from the remainder of thepanel, and parts of a frame constituted by lateral edges 17 a and abottom edge 17 b.

[0039] The upright 16 and the partial frame 17 a, 17 b cooperate withthe ribs 15 to provide the rigid structure of the panel.

[0040] Between the inner panel 14 and the outer panel 13, the tailgatehas an aluminum frame 18 which reinforces the structural portions of theinner panel as constituted by the central upright and its partial frame,and which provides anchor points for taking up the forces to which thetailgate is subjected.

[0041] These anchor points are the hinges of the tailgate, its lock, andthe anchor points for the equalizers and the retaining cables, asdescribed below.

[0042] The hinges of the tailgate are secured to the metal frame in theform of an extension 22 terminated by a hinge pin 23 which penetratesinto a corresponding orifice provided in the frame 12 around the openingin the vehicle.

[0043] The lock 24 of the tailgate is likewise secured to the metalframe 18 onto which it is mounted directly by means of screws (notshown).

[0044] The equalizers 22 are cylinders connected to the frame 12 aroundthe opening with respective rods connected to pins 23 situated beyondthe bearing 20, away from the tailgate and serving to compensate for theweight of the tailgate so as to make it easier to handle.

[0045] Retaining cables 24 are also fixed to either side of thetailgate, between the frame of the opening 12 and the metal frame 18 ofthe tailgate, thus providing the tailgate with good strength againstloading.

[0046] In addition to its function as a structural part of the tailgate,the inner panel also provides various functions which are describedbelow.

[0047] In the bottom edge 17 b of each housing, an electricity outlet 25is provided to supply electricity in the event of an electricalappliance being used when said housing is empty, regardless of whetherthe tailgate is open or closed.

[0048] A warning lamp 26 is engaged in the end of the upright 16 andserves to mark the tailgate when it is open and the vehicle istraveling, so as to warn following vehicles of the danger constituted bythe tailgate projecting from the vehicle.

[0049] The warning lamp 26 is surrounded by reflective marking 27 tomake it more effective.

[0050] A handle 28 is formed in the upright to make it easier to closethe tailgate when it is in the open position, in particular from theinside of the vehicle.

[0051] On either side of its central upright 16, the inner panel 14defines two housings 29 which are defined by the edges 17 a and 17 b andwhich have back walls 30 constituted by the flat portion of the panel.

[0052] Each of these housings 29 is designed to receive a respectivemodule 31.

[0053] The various modules that can be used in the tailgate include, inparticular, a seat, a picnic table, an insulated picnic box, a cooker, a“pillow” headrest, a support for lighting, an unloading ramp, a storagecompartment, a case, a tool box, a support for electrical apparatusessuch as a computer or measurement apparatus that can be powered from theelectricity outlet, a writing desk, a support for securing objects thatare long and fragile, or a single, two-part box extending over theentire width of the tail gate.

[0054] To simplify the drawing, there is shown a module 31 in the formof a rectangular parallelepiped which fits in the thickness of eitherhousing.

[0055] The way in which the module 31 is fixed in the housing 29, asdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4D, 5, and 6, couldnaturally be adapted to any other type of module.

[0056] Each housing side wall 32 has a groove 33 integrally moldedtherein and extending from the open end of the housing which is the topend when the tailgate is closed, all the way to the bottom wall 34 ofeach housing.

[0057] Each groove 33 receives a skid 35 projecting from the side wall36 of a module 31, which skid slides along the groove 33 and guides themodule while it is being inserted in the housing, by moving intranslation from right to left as shown in FIG. 3.

[0058] In the vicinity of its open end, each groove 33 intersects achimney 37 which holds a locking latch 38 constituted by a squaresection tubular piece extending over nearly the full height of thechimney, and urged towards the outside of the chimney, i.e. upwardsrelative to FIG. 3, by a helical spring 39 acting between the end of thechimney and the base of the latch.

[0059] Halfway along the latch 38, there is formed a setback 40 definedon top by an edge 41 parallel to the groove and at the bottom by an edge42 which slopes so that when the latch 38 is at rest it begins frombeneath the groove adjacent to the open end of the groove and terminatesabove the groove remote from its open end.

[0060] In its rest position, the latch 38 is flush with the top face ofthe upright 16 where it includes a hollow shape for making it easier forthe user to apply finger force thereto.

[0061] When the latch 38 is pushed in under the effect of such force,the bottom sloping edge 42 of the opening 40 moves so as to liecompletely beneath the groove 33, thereby allowing the skid of a moduleto pass through.

[0062] However, when the latch 38 is at rest, i.e. when it is pushedupwards by the spring 39, the skid 35 can no longer pass through.

[0063] It will be understood that in the module-insertion direction, asshown in FIG. 4B, the sloping bottom edge 42 of the opening serves as acam so that thrust exerted on the module is transmitted to the latchwhich is pushed in so as to release a passage for the skid, after whichit returns to its rest position.

[0064] In contrast, once the module is in place, and so long as nopressure is exerted on the latch, the latch will stay in place andoppose passage of the skid, thereby retaining the module in the housing,as can be seen in FIGS. 4D and 6.

[0065] By pressing down the latch 38, a passage is released for the skid35, thereby allowing the module 31 to move out from the housing underdrive from a spring-loaded pusher 43 housed in the closed end of thegroove 33.

[0066] FIGS. 7 to 9 show an embodiment in which the tailgate 44 of avehicle has substantially the same structure as in the precedingembodiment, but is further provided with a flap 45 that carries a numberplate 46.

[0067] The flap 45 is mounted on the outer panel of the tailgate byhorizontal axis hinges 47 that allow the flap to pivot under the effectof its own weight so that said flap always remains in a verticalposition regardless of the position of the tailgate.

[0068] Nevertheless, the flap 45 is locked in a “retracted” positionwhen the tailgate lower portion is closed by means of a locking device(not shown) which is coupled to the control for opening the tailgate.

[0069] Thus, so long as the tailgate lower portion is closed, the flapremains pressed against the outer panel in spite of any vehiclevibration.

[0070] However, when the tailgate is opened by actuating its openingcontrol, the flap 45 is released and can take up the position shown inFIG. 8, in which position it can also be held stationary by any suitablemeans.

[0071] In a variant (not shown), the hinges 47 include a bistablemechanism for fixing them in two angular positions that are spaced apartby 90°, such that the flap is held angularly relative to the tailgate soas to prevent it from swinging while the vehicle is moving. Under suchcircumstances, the flap can be positioned by hand as a function of theopen or closed position of the tailgate.

[0072] The number plate lighting system can also be supported by theflap 45 so as to enable the vehicle to be used at night with thetailgate down.

[0073] In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the tailgate lower portion 50 hasan outer panel 51 that is removable and in which there is provided ashape in relief 52 corresponding to the space occupied by a spare wheel.

[0074] The inner panel (not shown) has the same shape provided on theinside of the vehicle.

[0075] In this embodiment, the main supplementary function of thetailgate, additional to its function of closing the tail of the vehicle,is the function of receiving the spare wheel while protecting it fromexternal attack and contributing to an improvement in the appearance ofthe vehicle.

[0076] The outer panel can be unlocked to give access to the sparewheel.

[0077] The unlocking control is to be found on the inside of thevehicle, e.g. on the inner panel of the tailgate.

[0078] Naturally the embodiments described above are not limiting in anyway and can receive any desirable modification without thereby goingbeyond the ambit of the invention.

1. A motor vehicle tailgate of the type for installing on a motorvehicle so as to pivot about a horizontal axis situated close to thebottom edge of the tailgate between a closed position in which it closesaccess to the inside of the vehicle, at least in part, and an openposition in which it is substantially horizontal and releases access tothe inside of the vehicle, the tailgate comprising anappearance-defining outer panel and a structural inner panel, said innerpanel being made of a plastics material.
 2. A tailgate according toclaim 1 , wherein the inner panel presents shapes in relief, inparticular including ribs, and presents a structure that is rigid.
 3. Atailgate according to claim 1 , wherein the inner panel is made ofpolypropylene mixed with glass fibers or of a thermosetting plasticsmaterial, and wherein the outer panel is made of a thermoplasticmaterial.
 4. A tailgate according to claim 1 , wherein the tailgateincludes metal reinforcement between the outer panel and the innerpanel, which reinforcement takes up a fraction of the forces that areexerted on the tailgate.
 5. A tailgate according to claim 1 , whereinthe inner panel has housings suitable for receiving modules that arereceived at least in part in the thickness of the tailgate and thatprovide special functions.
 6. A tailgate according to claim 5 , whereinthe modules are two in number and are disposed on either side of acentral upright formed in the inner panel to stiffen it in the region ofthe lock of the tailgate.
 7. A tailgate according to claim 1 , whereinthe inner panel includes retention means for retaining the modules intheir housings, the retention means being releasable.
 8. A tailgateaccording to claim 7 , wherein each retention means is constituted by aslideway and a latch.
 9. A tailgate according to claim 1 , wherein theouter panel of the tailgate supports a flap hinged about a horizontalaxis enabling said flap to pivot relative to the tailgate so that theflap remains in a vertical position when the tailgate pivots from itsclosed, vertical position to its open, horizontal position.
 10. Atailgate according to claim 1 , including respective setbacks in theinner panel and in the outer panel for the purpose of receiving a sparewheel.